Valencia to fund 1,000 information and compliance monitors for the beaches this summer

Thursday 27th May 2021 – XÀBIA AL DÍA with Mike Smith

The president of the Generalitat Valencian, Ximo Puig, has confirmed that the ESTIU SEGUR programme will return for the summer of 2021, an initiative that includes the hiring of 1,000 people who will act as information liaison to ensure compliance with all the necessary health protocols to prevent the spread of COVID-19, both on the beaches of the Comunidad Valenciana as well as places of great interest.

Puig made the announcement after holding a meeting on the public health and safety system for the forthcoming summer months. which was attended by the Minister of Justice, Interior and Public Administration, Gabriela Bravo; the Minister of Universal Health and Public Health, Ana Barceló; the Minister of Sustainable Economy, Productive Sectors, Trade and Labor, Rafa Climent; the regional secretary of Tourism, Francesc Colomer; and the regional secretary of Security and Emergencies, José María Ángel.

The president explained that the objective of the campaign is to “generate maximum safety on the beaches of the Comunidad Valenciana, which will help reinforce the image of the region as a safe holiday destination in a bid to reactivate tourism for a summer season that will begin in good shape with regards to the epidemiological situation.

He added that the campaign will also provide job creation for young people, one of the most vulnerable groups of the workplace at the moment, explaining that they will “not only provide guidance for compliance with health regulations on the busy beaches but will also provide tourist information as well as help prevent problems that might occur, such as the potential for drowning in unknown waters.

Subsidy of 4.5 million euros

There have been changes to the initiative which was brought in last summer. It now will be municipality responsibility to hire the staff directly after selection by LABORA. To support this, the Generalitat Valenciana will provide funding of 4.5 million euros to the 71 municipalities that have a coastal or continental beach; there are 32 in the province of Valencian, 19 in Castellón and 20 in Alicante.

This grant is likely to be financed by European funds from REACT-EU initiative – Recovery Aid for Cohesion and the Territories of Europe – through Specific Objective 2 which is aimed at supporting market access for work for people in a situation of vulnerability, access to social systems, and measures for social inclusion and the eradication of poverty.

The number of position available for each municipality will be established through objective criteria such as the length of beaches in kilometres, the number of hotel places, and the services that the beaches can provide, with a minimum of two personnel per municipality.

Requirements and Job Description

Personnel should be over 18 years of age and under 30, be unemployed and available for three-month contracts valid from June 1st until 30th September.

In general terms, the staff will provide information of COVID-19 health protocols that are in place, especially with regards to access control and maximum capacities of beaches, ensuring compliance with the measures contained in the regulation provided by the Ministry of Health as well as the provisions contained in the Security and Rescue Plans, including contingency plans.

In addition, staff will inform and guide beach users of warnings and communications that may be issued in matters of emergencies and civil protection by the Generalitat Valenciana’s Emergency Coordination Centre (AVRSE) as well as established contact with 112 Comunidad Valenciana in the event of an emergency that cannot be covered by resources on site and thus require the deployment of additional emergency assistance.

They will be responsible for information the local police force of incidents and actions carried out during the day; carry out auxiliary assistance tasks or collaborations with the local police; assist the Tourism services in the municipality; and provide surveillance and security collaborative services, always within the scope of their abilities and training. They will not be called upon to provide security, first aid, cleaning, or similar work.

Those who are offered a contract will be given mandatory training through IVASPE on Emergencies, Health and Tourism, providing them with the necessary tools to give the best care and information to beach users.

The initiative has the support of the Agency for Security and Emergency Response, under the Ministry of Justice, Interior and Public Administration, which will coordinate the 1,000 young people; of LABORA, dependent on the Ministry of Sustainable Economy and Productive Sectors, which will coordinate the hiring; of the Ministry of Universal Health and Public Health, in charge of developing the necessary COVID-19 health protocols on beaches and, finally, of Tourism that collaborates with the formation of the contracted people.